Strokes are a major health problem in Vietnam, but to date, there has been
no epidemiology survey reporting data in this country. We collected epidemi
ology data on strokes using a door-to-door survey in 1994-1995 in three dif
ferent regions of southern Vietnam (one site in a Ho Chi Minh City and two
rural areas in the Tien Clang and Kien Clang provinces). interviewers were
medical students and non-medical staff trained in the use of questionnaire
based on WHO diagnostic criteria for stroke. Results of the interviews were
reviewed and detected stroke patients were examined by a team of experienc
e neurologists. U-test was used for statistical analysis. After age adjustm
ent stroke prevalence was 6.08 per 1 000 inhabitants. Prevalence increased
with age. Mortality and incidence, after age adjustment, were 1.31 and 2.5
per 1 000 inhabitants respectively. Due to the lack of detailed death certi
ficates in these regions, these data must be considered carefully. Arterial
hypertension was recognized as the most important risk factor for stroke i
n our survey.